18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Expect The Unexpected!...., March 2, 2004
This review refers to the Anchor Bay(2 disc)DVD edition of "Winter Kills".....
Based on the novel by Richard Condon("Prizzi's Honor"), "Winter Kills" is a somewhat dark comical thriller that seems to parallel the Kennedy Assassination investigation.
The story opens 19 years after the death of President Tim Kegan.The "lone gunman" theory is about to come to an end! A dying man gives his confession to the half brother of the President, Nick Kegan(Jeff Bridges).He was the second gunman hired by some very notorious characters. There's evidence to prove it and Nick decides to go after it.Nick soon finds himself involved deep in a "conspiracy theory" that leads to more deaths and suspects leading to some very surprising twists and turns along the way. Nick doesn't know who he can trust and may now be a target himself.
It's a very enjoyable film for it's neverending unpredictable turns of events that keep you on the edge of your seat. One that is certainly worth pulling out and viewing every so often.Bridges is excellent in the role and the list of Hollywood greats that make appearances as the larger than life and somewhat zaney characters is worth the view alone(even though some may be considered as mere cameos).
John Huston steals the show as the all controlling "Pa Kegan". The list also includes Anthony Perkins, Eli Wallach, Sterling Hayden(as a crazy billionaire war freak),Toshiro Mifune, Ralph Meeker,Dorothy Malone, Belinda Bauer, Richard Boone(sorry... no "Pallidan" music),and Elizabeth Taylor, who only has one line, that is mouthed, but what a line it is! Maurice Jarre supplies the wonderful music and William Richert superbly directs.
This 1979 film looks fabulous on this DVD. A nice clear picture with good color in widescreen(2.35:1). The sound is good in DD2.0(Mono) with all the dialouge, music and background noises clear and distinguishable.There are 2 discs. Disc one contains the film and commentary by the director. Disc 2 has a ton of special features to peruse including, interviews on a feaurette called "Who Killed Winter Kills", a trailer, a still gallery and more(see tech info for complete list).It is also very nicely packaged with the case inside a slip-sleeve. I agree with the other reviewers that the price is a little high, but it's definatly worth the view. You may want to rent it, or put it on your wish list and watch for a reasonably priced used edition.
It's something out of the ordinary with a few chuckles and some great thrills..check it out....Laurie
single disc edition(check for best deal):
Winter Kills
also recommended:
L.A. Confidential - Special Edition / The Usual Suspects (Special Edition) (2 Pack)
Luzhin Defence (Full Screen Version)
The Ice Storm
Someone Behind the Door(this one stars charles bronson and anthony perkins - may be a good rental)
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
why did I have to stumble onto this movie?, February 23, 2006
First, this film blew me away. And second, I would never have discovered this movie had I not chanced upon it at the library ... and I'm baffled more people don't mention it. Huston's megalomaniacal Mr. Burns cum Palmer Eldritch cum Citizen Kane is diabolically delicious and the kind of character that should show up in one of the Hollywood retrospectives they show when a host is caught up snorting lines backstage during the Oscars. In fact, "Winter Kills" teems with offbeat characterizations that might flutter off into self-absorbed zaniness if not for Jeff Bridges in a competent everyman role. Perkins performs the kind of inspired cameo that makes you shake your head he couldn't have broken free of the "Psycho" mold. Sterling Hayden, interestingly, plays a character that could very well be the same power-mad general he played in "Dr. Strangelove," retired now and protecting his land with tanks. And Liz Taylor is perfect in her split-second appearance as a sort of doughboy Heidi Fleiss, dolled up and glassy-eyed. Bridges, tempered amid the maelstrom and a smart, multilayered "whodunit" script keeps the film grounded. The biting parallels to JFK are even more poignant today, now that business interests have unseated our country's ideals completely.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie, careless dvd, October 8, 2005
I love this movie, it's one of my favourite American films because of its continuous odd and intoxicating humour - Anchor Bay's dvd transfer is technically good but the bad special effects are highlighted by the deluxe treatment and more importantly the enigmatic and poetic ending featuring the woman and waving child riding past Jeff Bridges on a bicycle (which happens throughout the film just before someone gets killed) is simply and amazingly not there - instead we get a tracking shot on a "futuristic" answering machine which is definitely lame in comparison. I think I'll be returning more frequently to the VHS.
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